Remotely controlled register



Oct. 6, 1942. Q 5M|TH REMOTELY CONTROLLED REGISTER SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 7, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 sh8ets sh t WHY c. SMITH REMOTELY CONTROLLED REGISTER SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 7. less Oct. 6, 1942.

MM IAN M t-llm- Oct. 6, 1942. c. SMITH REMOTELY CONTROLLED REGISTER SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 7, 193 9 4 Sheets-Sheet s- Oct. 6, 1942. 0. SMITH v 2,298,238

REMOTELY CONTROLLED REGISTER SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 7, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fizz-/zzo/t Patented Oct. 6, 1942 UNlTED STATES PATENT ()FFICE REMOTELY CONTROLLED REGISTER, SYSTEM 10 Claims.

The invention pertains to remotely controlled register systems and particularly to registers and systems in which balls are released by remote control and the registers then operate to efiect counting and registration of the released balls.

The objects of the invention are to release, simultaneously, or in rapid succession and at irregular intervals, in a register office balls, preferably all of the same size, having variant significances and variant values, to assemble at one register all balls having similar significance although of variant values, to operate a register device at such a point to indicate total value of all balls of that significance, then to assemble all registered balls from all such points to operate a grand totalizer -to indicate total value of all balls of all significances, and to render such indication at repeated occasions without interrupting the above noted release of balls. A further object is to release by one act a plurality of balls of variant significances.

These objects are accom lished by providing at sales windows ticket issuing devices having electrical contacts which are operated concomitantly with the issuance of a ticket, by providing at a registry oflice electrically operable ball emitters connected by circuits to the ticket issuing device contacts to .be controlled thereby, by providing ducts or ball passage ways, by providing a ball retaining device and a ball countnig register at a point where ducts of similar significance unite, by providing further ducts from the registers to a further ball concentration point and by providing a further ball counting register for indicating a grand total of all balls at the further ball concentration point. In one feature of the invention, a single act releases a plurality of balls of variant significances, which by the described ducts are guided to separate and independent ball-counting registers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ball counter in which each ball is registered by translation of a predetermined quantity of fluid and in which numerical registration is eliected by a fluid motor propelled by the translated fluid.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 taken together show a general circuit and duct arrangement including seven substation ticket issuing devices each illustrated in mechanical detail in a further similar device in Fig. 6;

Figure 3 shows elevation of a ball counter;

Figure 4 shows side elevation of the ball count- Figure 5 showsmotor and spring;

Figure 6 showsdetails of a further ticket issuing device;

Figure '7 shows a detail of Figure 6 in operated condition; and

Figures 8 and 9 show vertical sectional view and horizontal section of an electromagnetically controlled ball emitter.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views. Numerals I to inclusive and numeral 50 are descriptive. A plus sign indi tes a grounded battery.

Description of apparatus Referring to Figures 3 and 4 illustrating the ball counter: a frame supports a fixed shaft 32, a rotary power shaft 33, a counting pump block :34, an oil supply tank 35, a fluid motor 36, and a numerical register 31. Counting pump block 34 comprises three internal cavities 29, 33, 39, connected by piping to intake manifold through individual check'valves 4| and connected to output manifold 42 through check valves 43, 44 leading to fluid motor 36 driving register 31, A Waste pipe 45 extends from motor 36 to tank3a5.

Shaft '33 carries a ball drum 50, which has peripheral rows of ball pockets 5| for $2 balls, 52 for $5 balls, :53 for $10 balls, 54 for $25 balls, and 55 for balls, there being fewer pockets per row for $25 and $50 balls. Balls are fed to drum5 0 from ahopper 51.

Shaft 32 supports pivotally five cam followers 6| for $2 balls, also one each for 62 for $5 balls, 63 for $10 balls, 64 for $25 balls, and 65 for $50 balls. Adjustments for the cam followers severally are indicated at 66. Cams Y64 and 05 have longer cam edges, providing a longer time period than 6|, 62, 63 for flow of a greater quantity of fluid yet not increasing speed of fluid flow proportionately.

Plungers H, 12, 13, H3, 15 project into cavities 29, 38 and 39 and are drawn by springs attached to the frame to hold the plungers against their respective ,cam followers. Cavities 38 and 39,

. manifolds 40 and 42, and motor 35 normally are 85 is in normal position as shown. Stop dog 83 engages stop lug 86 on lock-arm 81 should slide 85 be operated and lock-arm 81 unoperated, but should lock-arm 81 be operated as shown in Figure 7 the stop dog 83 then may pass. Stop lug 88 on lock-arm 81 engages stop dog 89 to lock slide 85 against operation should lock-arm 81 be operated before slide 85 has been moved from normal. Lock-arm 81 is operated :by magnet 90 as explained in the Hoyer patent.

A constantly rotating gear wheel 9I is mounted upon the outside of the body frame of the ticket issuing machine coaxially with the lid hinges 92. A friction roller 93 is journaled upon the lid of the machine; it extends across all ticket issuing apertures, and is geared to the wheel 9|, being thus constantly rotated. Opposite each ticket aperture are pivoted feeler arms 94, each of which controls a contact 82 normally open. Opposite each ticket aperture are fixed guide springs 95. A ticket 96 when issued by a slide 85 isguided by a spring 95 into engagement with follower means power roller 93; it is carried by the roller under arm 94, operating the arm to close the contact 82 (as shown), which is individual to the operated slide 85.

A ball emitter I is shown in Figures 8 and 9, Figure 8 being a vertical section on line 8--8 of Figure 9, and Figure 9 being a horizontal section on line 9-9 of Figure 8. Tube IN is supplied with balls from a magazine (not shown), and tube I02 guides an emitted ball to a predetermined point. Solenoid I03 is marginal in operation, closing the contact points I04 when partly energized, and operating to emit a ball I05 only when fully energized. Contacts I06 normally are held closed by a feeler I01 pivoted at I08 only when a ball I05 is in position to be emitted, as shown. Mechanical springs I09 serve to retain ball I05 in position but yield when plunger IIO of solenoid I03 is operated. Ball drum 50 and shaft 33 (Figs. 3 and 4) are driven by gear III (Fig. 5), pinion I I2 and motor 3 acting through a yielding connection II 4. Mechanical details illustrated in the emitter I00 of Figs. 8 and 9 are present in the further emitters I00A to I00R in Fig. 2.

Substations, or ticket windows, I2I to I21, inclusive (Fig. 1), each of which consists of a Hoyer ticket machine modified according to Figures 6 and 7, are connected by conductors in a cable I28 to central office ball emitting apparatus I00A to I00R, inclusive, each of which is a ball emitter (Figs. 8 and 9). Complete ball counters according to Figures 3 and 4 are indicated at I3I to I39, inclusive (Fig. 2), only the ball drums and numerical registers being shown.

In an adaptation of thisvinvention to horse race betting, horse No. 1 is represented by emitters I00A to I 00-F, I80-M, I00P, which are connected by ducts I4I, I42, I43, I44, I45 to counter I3I for horse No. 1. Similarly, horse No. 2 is represented by emitters I00--G to I00-L, I00-N, I00Q which are connected by ducts I46, I41, I48, I49, I50 to counter I32 for horse No. 2. Further ducts I5I extend from counters I 3I and I32 to a grand totalizer I33. Positioned near the ducts I43, I44, I48, I49 and operable to be positioned in the ducts to obstruct movement of balls, are stop gates I55 on a shaft I58 tensioned by spring I51 and restrained by latch I58 which may be unlatched by movement of armature I59 of magnet I60 under control of contacts in program clock I6I. Gates I 55 may be reset by operation of a handle, I62. Contacts I83 controlled by rotation of shaft I56 when released by latch I58 may energize an alarm device to signal in attendant.

Operation of the system is as follows:

To issue a $2 ticket on horse No. 1, an attendant at substation I2I operates slide 85, Fig, 6, to engage stops 83 and 86, thus closing upper contacts 8| at substation I2I, Fig. 1, thus closing a circuit including contact 8I at substation I2I, resistor I10, conductor I1I, solenoid I03, of emitter I A, and grounded battery. Marginal current because of resistor I10 energizes the solenoid I03 to close the contact I04 of emitter I00A, thus closing a circuit including contacts I04 and I06 of emitter I00A, conductor I 15, magnet 90 at substation I2I, and grounded battery. Magnet 90 at substation I2I is energized and armature member 81 accordingly is operated, engaging all stops, 88, 89, on all slides not moved at substation I2I and disengaging the stops83 and of the moved slide. Had no ball been in position to be emitted, the last described circuit would not have been formed and no further action would be possible until a ball moves into position to be emitted. The attendant now completes the movement of the slide 85 and shifts a ticket to the roller 93, where the ticket operates the arm 94 and closes contact 82, shunting the resistor I10 and increasing the current in the first described circuit to energize solenoid I03 of emitter I00A fully. The plunger of the solenoid emits the positioned ball into one of the ducts I4I, releasing the feeler I01, Fig. 8, and opening the contact I06 of emitter I00A, thus deenergizingmagnet at substation I2! and unlocking all ticket slides at substation I2I.

In like manner, operation of a different slide at $2 substation I2I to close lower contact 8| will close a circuit over conductor I8I to ball emitter I00G and will emit a $2 ball into one of the ducts I46 pertaining to horse No. 2.

Similarly, operation to close the upper contact 8| at substation I 22 will result in currents in conductors I82 and I83 to emit a $2 ball into one of the ducts I4I pertaining to horse No. 1, while operation to close the lower contact 8| at substation I22 will result in currents in conductors I84 and I83 to emit a $2 ball into one of the ducts I46 pertaining to horse No. 2.

Likewise, contacts in $5 substation I23 control $5 balls emitted from emitters I 00-C and I00I by currents in conductors I85, I86, I81. Contacts in $10 substation I24 control balls emitted from emitters I00-D and I00J by currents in conductors I88, I89, I90. Contacts in $25 substation I25 control balls emitted from emitters E and K by current in conductors I9I, I92, I93. Contacts in $50 substation I26 control balls emitted from emitters I00--F and I 00L by currents in conductors I94, I 95, I96.

Issuance of a single sticket at combination $6 substation I21 places three bets upon one horse, a bet of the first class requiring a registering $2 ball in first class counters, as I3I, I33, also a bet of the second class requiring a $2 ball in second class counters, as I34, I36, and a bet of the third class requiring a $2 ball in third class counters, as I31, I39.

marginally and closing the three contacts, I04, by which the response circuit is formed, including contacts I84, I06, conductor 2I2, magnet 90 at substation I21, and grounded battery. Magnet 90 then permits issuance of a ticket to close contact 82, producing full energization of sole noids I03, and resulting in emitting three $2 balls into ducts I42, 2I4, 2I5 which lead to the counters .I3I, I34, I31.

Similarly, operation of lower contact 8| at substation I21 will operate emitters IUD-P, IOU-Q, and IIlIl-R, by currents in conductors 2I6 and 2I2, and will result in emitting three $2 balls into ducts I41, 2I1, 2I8, which lead to counters I32, I34, I31.

Apparatuses 22! and 222 (Fig. 2) indicate two complete equipments like apparatus 220.

Emitted balls from emitters I60A to IIl8-F inclusive and lull-M for bets of the first class on horse No. 1 are guided by ducts I4I, I42, I43, I44, I45 (Figs. 1 and 2) to hoppers, as 51 (Figs. 2 and 4), whence they enter pockets, 5| to 55, in ball drum 53 (Fig. 4). As each $2 ball is carried by the drum under its cam 6I it lifts the cam and forces a plunger 1I into cavity 38 displacing a quantity of fluid equal to 2 predetermined volume units through valve 43 into output manifold 42 and through fluid motor 36 into supply tank 35. The fluid motor 36 operates the register 31 to indicate 2. When the ball thus tallied disengages from the cam 6| the springs 15 draw the plunger 1I down into the normal position shown, thus drawing into cavity 38 through intake valve M a quantity of fluid to replace the expelled fluid.

A plurality of balls, five or fewer, may occupy pockets 5I (5 shown) and may operate a like number of plungers 1I simultaneously in a single cavity 38 through a single intake valve 4| and a single output valve 43. A $5 ball will be directed by ducts to pocket 52 in drum 50 and will operate cam 62 to operate plunger 12, which may have an axial travel and a plunger cross area to force a quantity of fluid equal to five volume units through valve 43 into output manifold 42 and through fluid motor 36, which operates the register 31 to increase its prior indication by 5.

Similarly a $10 ball in pocket 53 operates cam 63 and plunger 13 to displace l0 volume units of fluid through motor 35; a $25 ball in pocket 54 operates cam 64 and plunger 14 to displace 25 volume units of fluid through motor 36; and a $50 ball in pocket 55 operates cam 65 and plunger 15 to displace 50 volume units of fluid through motor 36.

Plungers which displace the larger quantities of fluid are operated more slowly, as provided for by the longer cam face on cam 64 (Fig. 4) and by the greater distance between pockets 54, also 55 (Fig, 3). Any number of plungers may be operated simultaneously in any cavity, 29, 38, 39, and the several cavities may be operated in staggered time relation to render the flow through the motor 36 less irregular.

When tickets are sold continuously throughout a considerable period of time and it is desired to register the totalized sales at successive intervals in that period, a desired registration may be taken without stopping the continuity of sales. between the ball emittters and the ball counters stop gates, preferably under control of a clock contact.

There are provided in all ducts Referring to Figur 2: a stop gate I55 is provided for each duct upon a shaft I56. Clock I6I closes a contact and energizes magnet I68 which by armature I59 operates latch I58 to release shaft I55 which moves all gates I55 to stop all balls. Balls which had not passed the gate. are held stored in the ducts, and all balls which had passed the gate pass quickly through the counters and operate the registers, which then stop all movementof dials. A contact I64 closed by shaft I56 energizes a signal device I64 to attract attention of an attendant. The attendantregisters manually by means not shown the readings of all ball-operated registers, then operates the handle, I62, to restore all gates I55 thus releasing all stored balls into the counters, rendering the entire system operative pending closure of the next clock contact.

When a race has started, it is desired to stop all ticket sales and to effect this control from a single point. For this purpose equipment already described is largely used. An electrical switch 255 (Fig. 1), controls a multicontact relay 223 over an obvious circuit. Relay 226 when operated connects ground to all conductors, as I15, I83, I86, 2I2, and others, thus energizing all substation magnets, as I15, 253, and others, and looking all ticket issuing slides, as slide (Figs. 6 and '1) locked by energization of magnet 98.

While the invention has been described by illustration of a single embodiment thereof, the true scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through which a ticket may be issued, a ticket shifting member manually movable to shift a ticket initially toward said discharge opening, an electromagnet, an armature member therefor, first cooperating stops on said members engageable to restrain said ticket shifting member from effective movement when said armature member is in operated position, second cooperating stops on said members engageable to restain said ticket shifting member at a mean position when said armature member is in unoperated position, remote controlling means for energizing said magnet torender said armature member effective to disengage said second cooperative stops to permit further movement of said ticket shifting member, to shift farther said shifted ticket, and follower means engageable by said further shifted ticket and effective automatically to issue said ticket completely.

2. In a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through which a ticket may be issued, a ticket shifting member manually movable to advance a ticket initially toward said discharge opening, an electromagnet, an armature member therefor, cooperating stops on said members engageable to restrain said ticket shifting member at a mean position when said armature member is in unoperated position, remote controlling means for energizing said magnet to render said armature member effective to disengage said stops to permit further movement of said ticket shifting member, to shift farther said shifted ticket, and follower means engageable by said further shifted ticket and effective automatically to issue said ticket completely.

3. In a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through member manually movable for shifting a ticket toward said discharge opening, an electromagnet, an armature member therefor, first cooperating stops on said members engageable to restrain said ticket shifting member at its normal position when said armature member is in its operated position, second cooperating stops on said members engageable to restrain said ticket shifting member at a mean position when said armature member is in unoperated position, electrical contacts closable by said ticket shifting member when in said mean position and said second cooperating stops are in engagement, remotely located controlling means, electric circuits connecting said ticket issuing machine and said remote controlling means, said controlling means responsive to said contacts over one of said electrical circuits and efiective over another of said circuits for energizing said electromagnet to operate said armature member to disengage said second stops and to release said ticket shifting member to shift said ticket further, and follower means engageable by said further shift ticket for automatically issuing said ticket completely.

4. In a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through which a ticket may be issued, a ticket shifting member manually movable for shifting a ticket toward said discharge opening, an electromagnet, an armature member therefor, cooperating stops on said members engageable to restrain said ticket shifting member at a mean position when said armature member is in unoperated position, electrical contacts closable by said ticket shifting member when in said mean position and said stops are in engagement, remotely located controlling means, electric circuits connecting said ticket issuing machine and said remote controlling means, said controlling means responsive to said contacts over one of said electrical circuits and effective over another of said circuits for energizing said electromagnet to operate said armature member to disengage said stops and to release said ticket shifting member to advance said ticket further, and follower means engageable by said further advanced ticket for automatically issuing said ticket completely.

5. In a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through which a ticket may be issued, a ticket shifting member manually movable to shift a ticket toward said discharge opening, follower means for completely issuing a shifted ticket, a ticket detector member, an electrical contact operable by said ticket detector member under control of a shifted ticket in process of issuance by said follower means, a remotely located ball emitter, an electric circuit connecting said ticket issuing machine and said ball emitter, and means in said ball emitter to emit a ball responsively to operation of said electrical contact incidental to complete issuance of a ticket.

6. In a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through which tickets may be issued, a ticket shifting member manually movable to shift a ticket toward said discharge opening, a first electrical contact operated by said ticket shifting member in moved position, an electromagnet, 'an armature member therefor, cooperating stops on said members engageable to restrain said ticket shifting member at a mean position when said armature is in unoperated position, a remotely located ball emitter, electric circuits connecting said ticket issuing machine and said ball emitter, a second electric contact in said ball emitter closable by a ball in position for emission, and means in said ball emitter responsive to operation of said first electrical contact over one of said circuits and through said second contact and effective over another of said circuits to energize said electromagnet to render said ar-' mature member effective to disengage said stops to permit further movement of said ticket shifting member.

7. In a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through which tickets may be issued, a ticket shifting member manually movable to, shift a ticket toward said discharge opening, mechanical looking means and electrically operable unlocking means for said member in moved position, a first electrical contact operated by said ticket shifting member in moved position, a remotely located ball emitter, electric circuits connecting said ticket issuing machine and said ball emitter, a second electrical contact in said ball emitter closable by a ball in position for emission, means in said ball emitter responsive to operation "of said first electrical contact over one of said circuits and through said second contact and effective over another of said circuits to energize said electrically operable unlocking means to permit further movement of said ticket shifting member, and means in said ball emitter to emit said ball responsively to control over one of said circuits by said ticket detector contact.

8. In a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through which tickets may be issued, shifting means to shift a ticket initially and to shift said shifted ticket farther toward said discharge opening, follower means for shifting said shifted ticket still farther for completing issuance of said ticket, a first electrical contact closed by said shifting means when said ticket is in initially shifted position, a ticket detector member, a further electrical contact closed by said ticket detector member when said ticket is shifted farther by said follower means, an electromagnetically controlled lock for said shifting means in initiallyshifted-ticket position, a remotely located circuit controller, circuits connecting said ticket issuing machine and said circuit controller, means in said circuit controller responsive over one of said circuits to operation of said first contact and effective by current over another of said circuits to energize said electromagnetically controlled lock to unlock said shifting means to per- 1 mit said shifting means to shift said ticket farther into said follower means, and means in said circuit controller responsive to current incident to operation of said further electrical contact and effective to interrupt said current and to deenergize said lock.

9. In a ticket issuing system, a ticket issuing machine for stacked tickets and having a discharge opening through which a ticket may be issued, a remotely located ball emitter, circuits connecting said ticket issuing machine and said ball emitter, a resistor at said ticket issuing machine, means to shift a ticket toward said discharge opening and incident thereto to close one of said circuits through said resistor, means in said ball emitter conditioned by a ball in condition for emission and responsive to current in said closed one of said circuits and effective to close a further one of said circuits, means in said ticket issuing machine for further shifting said ticket and for issuing said ticket completely tive to issue a'ticket and conditioned for operation by current over one of said circuits incident to closure of said ball controlled contacts in said ball emitting machine under control of a ball in position for emission, and ball emitting means in said ball emitting machine efiective to emit a ball and conditioned for operation by current over one of said circuits incident to closure of said ticket controlled contacts in said ticket issuing machine under ccntrol of a ticket in position for issuance.

CLYDE SMITH. 

